Light weight t-20 shoulder stock for 3.5 inch rocket launcher



Nov. 24, 1959 H. HARVEY ETAL 2,913,960

LIGHT WEIGHT T-20 SHOULDER s'rocx FOR 3.5 men ROCKET LAUNCHER FiledMarch 7, 1956 s Sheets-Sheet 1 JNVEN TORs, HErbEr' c Harvey BY EcephanAfiisam.

.AITURNEYS.

1959 H. HARVEY ET AL LIGHT WEIGHT T-2O SHOULDER STOCK FOR 3.5 INCHROCKET LAUNCHER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 7, 1956 INVENTOR Herherliar-veg 51: Epharl A E fl;am

ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 24, 1959 H. HARVEY ETAL LIGHT WEIGHT T-2O SHOULDER STOCK FOR 3.5INCH ROCKET LAUNCHER FiledMarch 7, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TORSHer'harl: Han-veg BY 5: ephen .A. 51 am United Sta Patent 9 LIGHT WEIGHTT-20 SHOULDER STOCK FOR 3.5

' INCH ROCKET LAUNCHER Herbert Harvey, Redondo Beach, and Stephen A.Stam, Glendale, Calif., assignors, by mesne assignments, to the UnitedStates of America as represented by the Secretary of the ArmyApplication March 7, 1956, Serial No. 570,196

2 Claims. (Cl. 891.7)

This invention relates to an interchangeable ground and shoulder mountfor rocket launchers.

Launchers used in mounts of this type are usually those of the M20 orM2031, 3.5 inch class. They may employ a forward bipodsection and arearward section consisting of a combined legand shoulder stock. Inorder to use the launcher upon the shoulder, the forward bipod must'befolded into stowed position. Hence the launcher carries the added weightof the bipod at all times. With the present invention, the launcher maybe quickly dismounted from the tripod and with a minimum of'manipulation can be converted into a mobile lightweight'launcher to befired from the shoulder of the gunner.-

'Hence, an important object of this invention is to provide a groundmount of three sections, quickly dismounted and of lightweightconstruction throughout.

Anotherobject of the invention is to provide a mounting mechanismthatwill provide precise yet rapid controlled adjustment in elevation andfree traverse in azimuth. i

A further object of the invention is to provide a launcher mountingmechanism permitting the launcher to be readily converted from a groundmounted fieldpiece to a mobile shoulder-supported mount.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a mount to be usedwith existing tripods for launchers of this type.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentduring the course of the following description:

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andin which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughoutthe same:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a launcher mounted for shoulder firingand illustrates the shoulder stock.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 on Figure 1looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a partial perspective view of the ends of the shoulder stockshowing clamp members attached thereto.

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing a launcher mounted upon thecradle section and also mounted upon a tripod for firing from a prone orsitting position, the shoulder stock section being in stowed position.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the shoulder stock mounted upon thefiring position clips that are mounted in the mounting bands.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along lines 6-6 on Figure 5 andlooking in the direction of the arrows, showing the mounting bandadjusting means.

Figure 7 is a side elevation, partly broken away, illustrating thecradle member and elevational adjustment of the same.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary front view of the cradle and,

Figure 9 is a top plan view of the cradle.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of the invention, 1 indi cates generally a tripodof either the M77 or M1917 tion between the frame and yoke.

ice

mount class and consisting of ground engaging legs 2 adjustably mountedto a pintle socket member 3. 4 indicates generally a cradle section,comprising a yoke member 5 pivotally mounted by a nut and a bolt 6 to apintle frame section 7. Belleville spring washers 8, Figure 8, betweenthe frame 7 and yoke 5 provides fric- Elevational control of the yoke 5is obtained by turning a hand wheel 9 mounted at one end of an elongatedshaft 10 journaled in bearings 11 integrally mounted from the lowersurface of yoke 5. A worm 12 is fixed on the other end of shaft 10 andmeshes with a pair of arcuate internal gear segments 13 fixed to thefloor of the frame 7. Additional frictional braking action is affordedthe yoke, necessary to overcome the unbalance of the launcher about thepivot 6 when elevating or depressing, by a brake member 14 carried bythe forward under surface of 'the yoke 5 and which bears against theinner sides of the gear segments 13. A pintle 16 is attached to theunder face of frame 7 by bolts 15 and is adapted to fit within thepintle socket member 3 of the tripod 1 whereby the frame and partssupported thereby may be trained as a unit in azimuth.-

Forward and rearward mounting lugs 17 and 18 are formed integrally onthe respective ends of the upper surface of yoke member 5 for mountingforward and rearward launcher tube mounting bands 19 and 20respectively, by pins 21 and 22. These bands are adapted to receive thelauncher tube 23. The bands 19 and 20 are similar in construction andconsist of afiexible strap adapted to surroundthe tube of the launcher.

As clearly shown upon Figure 5, each band is formed with an adjustableconnection whereby its effective length may be varied to contract thesame about the launcher tube. Thus, referring to Figures 5 and 6, oneend of each strap is split and the two parts thus formed are rolled orlooped as at 2311 to rotatably receive the ends of a draw pin 23b. Themid portion of this pin is transversely drilled to rotatably accommodatea screw 24a whose threaded end engages a tapped hole in the other andthickened end 24 of the strap. Thus each band may be contracted aboutthe tube by turning of screw 24a.

From inspection of Figures 2 and 5 it will be noted that each strap hasa tapered undercut lug or bracket 25 secured, as by welding, to itslower surface. Each lug forms a portion of a bayonet joint for a purposesubsequently explained. Similar tapered lugs 26 are provided upon theupper and outer side of the bands 19 and 20.

Spaced depending apertured ears or lugs 27 are provided on each of thebands 19 and 29 on respective sides of the lug 25 for mounting the bandson the yoke member 5. This mounting is effected by pins 21 and 22 whichpass through the respective pairs of depending ears and the upstandinglugs 17 and 18 on yoke member 5, received between them. The lugs 25 and26 are adapted to receive tapered clips 29 and 30 respectively, fixed tothe ends of a shoulder stock 28. The shape and construction of thisguard are obvious from inspection of Figures 1, 4 and 5. Figure 4 showsthe guard attached to lugs 26 while Figures 1 and 5 show it attached tolugs 25.

To install the mounting bands 19 and 20 upon a launcher tube, bands 19and 20 are placed about the tube and clamped thereto by turning thescrews 24a. The bands are then attached to the cradle section by thepins 21 and 22, and the assembly is mounted to the tripod 1 by insertionof the pintle 16 into the pintle socket 3 of same. The shoulder stock 28is mounted upon lugs 26 by its clips 29 and 30 whereby it is secured inthe position shown upon Figure 4. The launcher is now in position forfiring from prone or sitting position.

To prepare the launcher for shoulder firing, the mountin'g bands 19 and20 are disengaged by' removing pins 21 and 22 and lifting the launcherfrom the cradle. The

shoulder stock is disengaged fromits position onlugs 26s the clip 30 toslide forward on its lug. Strike, the stock'- firmly with the hand tosecure the clip (see Figure The launcher is now ready for use as ashoulder fire piece. It is to be noted that the natural resilience ofthe metal of stock 23 retains it against displacement'from the lugs 25.V g 7' Fromthe foregoing, it can beseen that a l'auncher mount has beenprovided that can be quicklyconverted from a ground mount to, a shouldermount with a' minimum amount of manipulation. Greater mobility'isalsoachieved as well as a lighter launcher due 'to elimination of thetripod when used as a shoulder firing piece. The mounting band may be ofwelded construction throughout to provide greater strength. The shoulderstock may be of lightweight construction and may be'ribbed for rigidity.p

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herein shown anddescribed, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and thatvarious changes in the shape, size and arrangements of parts may beresorted towithout departing from the spirit of my'invention, or thescope of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a mount for a rocket launcher tube, a pair of split ringsencircling said tube, in axially spaced relation therealong, each saidring terminating at one of their ends thereof in a pair of spaced loopsand at their other ends in a thickened portion, means for tighteningsaid rings about said tube comprising a draw pin rotatably'mounted insaid loops, a screw transversely piercing said draw pins at a medialpoint and loops, each said screw to" be received" in a threaded holebeing disposed between said in each said thickened portion, a taperedbracket secured to the underside of each said ring and a shoulder stockhaving a tapered clip secured to its respective ends adapted to'fit arespectiye hraeket on said rings, said brackets and said clipsltaperinginopposite directions whereby theflresiliency of said stock. releasably'retains said stock on'a pair of said brackets;

2. In a mount fora/rocket launcher tubega pair of bands clampedabouLsaid tube in axially' spacefd relation therealong, a taperedmounting b'racket sepured to each said band, each said lugtapering-:iri' an opposite direction with respect to the othen ashoulder stock: comprising a I Refereed; Cited in the file this patent

